Wow, so I got so caught up in writing the BoS story that I forgot to update this. There wasn't really much room to put anything in in the time line I have going in my head, but I did manage to fit this little piece in. In case you haven't noticed, I did indeed write the BoS story, and it is posted separate, mostly to make my life easier. It's call I Could Get Used To This, and it's on Chapter Four now, so go catch up before it's too late!!

Disclaimer: I own Catt. That's it. First set of lyrics is "My Strongest Suit" from Aida, which Disney owns, I think. Second is "Take Me or Leave Me" from RENT, which is owned by...someone else.

WARNING: This chapter is a little more mature then the previous. More foul language and more mature themes. Nothing graphic, just mature.

Riley Poole was quite proud of himself. It was 2:30 in the morning, and he was asleep. It was a rare occurrence, as he had always had a touch of insomnia, and subconsciously he was celebrating his achievement.

Then the phone rang.

It was his home phone, which meant it was a close friend. It also meant that they had already tried his cell phone, to no avail. Rolling over, he pulled the cordless device off the stand and hit the right button, mumbling something reminiscent of a 'hello'.

"Riley, are you up?" Catt's voice was shaking, and the poor reception told him that she was driving.

"I am now." It was true. Sleep seemed to melt away instantly, replaced with concern. Catt had a strict bedtime routine, one she didn't break willingly. For her to still be awake and driving was alarming. "What's wrong?"

"I did something stupid." She admitted. "Really stupid."

"Where are you?" Riley asked.

"Driving." He could almost see her shrug. "I don't know where. Just wherever I end up. Riley, I didn't just do something stupid. I screwed up."

"Catt, it can't be that bad." Riley reasoned, but he heard a blast of static and knew she was shaking her head.

"I screwed up." She repeated. Her voice was hollow, as if any emotion would make it break. "Riley, I slept with John."

His jaw dropped, his grip on the phone slackened. "You…what?" He asked, unsure of what he had heard.

Catt seemed to think this was an admonishment, though, and promptly burst into tears. "I know! Riley, I didn't mean to! That sounds so stupid, but it's the truth. I went over to break up with him, and then I stayed for dinner, and one thing lead to another and…it just happened. I didn't want to, but he just kept going, so I was like 'all right, let's get this over with.'"

"No, Riley, it won't!" She cried. He began to grow concerned about the fact that she was still driving. "I don't even like him anymore! That was the whole point! We were breaking up!! There's no such thing as break-up sex!!"

"Catt, calm down." He repeated, sure that she was speeding by now. He had been in a car with her angry before, and he knew that it wasn't safe. "Where are you? Pull over, right now, before you get into an accident."

"Riley, will you stop worrying about the state of my car, and focus please?" Catt whined. "And I have stopped. I figured out where I was going."

"Where?" Riley asked, just as his doorbell rang.

"Guess." She said flatly. Riley jumped up and ran to his front door, opening it to reveal Catt, shivering in the chill night air.

Hanging up the phone, he let her in. She immediately collapsed on his living room couch, her head in her hands, her dark hair swinging in front of her face like a curtain on a stage. Riley followed, closing the door first. Sitting down next to her, he took one of her hands, gently running his thumb over the back. He felt cold, wet tears as she shook against him. Reaching behind her, he pulled a throw blanket around her shoulders.

Finally, she spoke again. "He wasn't even that good." Riley had to laugh. Catt even smiled, turning to look at him. "Do you think I'm a horrible person?"

"I could never think that." Riley told her, hugging her. "You're confused, that's all. You just need to figure out exactly what is going on with this guy, and then tell him." He paused, trying to remember which guy she was on. "This isn't White House Tour Guide John, is it?" She nodded. "Oh, please dump him." She laughed, but Riley continued. "He's so…uppity. He's a snob. Do you remember what he called me? Ben's assistant. Please. Ben couldn't have found that treasure without me."

"I know, Ri." Catt said. "I know. And like I said, I was going to break up with him. But he was so…charming. I mean, he had dinner ready. And dessert. And he was playing Taylor Swift." She gave Riley a significant look. "He hates Taylor Swift. He only played it because I was coming over."

"Wow." Riley couldn't help but be mildly impressed. But still… "There is a reason you were going to break up with him. What was it?"

"He's a jerk." She snapped. "He thinks that my family is crazy, that Abigail shouldn't be working such an important government position, that music is going to take me nowhere in life, and that you and I are secretly having some kind of passionate, illicit affair."

"Nice grocery list." Riley nodded. "Care to elaborate?"

"Sure, why not?" She sighed. "So he told me that Ben and Grandpa finding the treasure was a lucky shot, so to speak, and that they really are just crazies. Apparently Germans are still evil, even though World War II ended like, 60 years ago. That makes Abigail unfit to take care of really old things. Apparently the chance of my band getting signed are like, zip. He says I should just give it up and focus on my newspaper career. And there's no possible way that we can just be friends, despite the fact that you're like, my oldest friend that I never went to school with." She rolled her eyes. "He basically hates everyone that I consider family."

"I noticed." Riley nodded. "So…what are you to do?"

"I don't know." She shook her head. "I can't keep a functioning relationship with him for much longer. But I can't just break up with him now. I mean, we slept together. That's huge. His brain is thinking we just made a serious step in our relationship while I'm trying to end it."

"Catt, you can't use sex as a reason to stay with him." Riley pointed out.

"I know." She said. "I know what I have to do. I'm just having problems with actually doing it."

"Yes, Uncle Ben." She rolled her eyes and smiled, indicating that he was acting just as bossy and overprotective as her uncle. "I know where the spare room is." She groaned, getting up as well. Shuffling into the door right across from Riley's, she turned back to him. "Good night. And thanks. I know I woke you up. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it." He said. She hugged him quickly, then disappeared into the room she had claimed as her own when he first moved in. Riley just shook his head, and hoped he could get back to sleep.

oOoOoOoOo

Riley woke up six hours later to smell something cooking. He panicked for a moment, thinking that burglar had broken in and helped themselves to his large, barely-used kitchen, before he remember that Catt had spent the night. Sure enough as he shuffled down to the kitchen, he heard her singing along to the iHome he had installed.

"Now I believe in looking like my time on earth is cookingWhether polka-dotted, striped or even checkedWith some glamour guaranteeing every fiber of my beingIs displayed to quite remarkable effectsFrom your cradle via trousseau to your death bed you're on view soNever compromise accept no substituteI would rather wear a barrel than conservative apparelA dress has always been my strongest suit"

She, was, in fact, wearing a dress, with a black and white polka-dot sweater over it. It was a pretty purple number, with a tight bodice and full skirt that swished every time she moved her hips. While she was dancing around the kitchen, Riley sat down, grabbing his laptop to read the paper. When she finally looked over and noticed him, she jumped a bit.

"Way to make an entrance." She said, waving a fork at him.

"You looked like you were having fun." Riley shrugged. "So, what's for breakfast this morning?"

"Pancakes." She said, motioning towards the batter bowl. "I even though of you and put peanut butter chips in them."

"There are chocolate chips in there too." Riley said, getting up and inspecting the batter.

"I didn't want to make two batches, so we're going to have to compromise." She informed him. He grinned, quite happy with her form of compromise. He helped her finish the pancakes, then they sat down at the table together and ate in a happy silence.

Catt suddenly broke that silence. "I called John this morning and broke up with him."

"Really?" Riley practically dropped his pancake at that.

"Yeah." She nodded. "I just told him that he was being a jerk to my family, and that family is more important to me than any guy ever could be."

"You actually told him that?" Riley was amazed. He never doubted that Catt was strong; he just didn't realize she was that strong.

"Yeah." She nodded, and continued eating her pancakes. Riley just stared at her for a moment, then followed suit.

As they finished the meal, Catt piped up again. "So, do we still have to go sit through some boring lecture of Ben's?"

"Yes, Catt." Riley said. "He might have to hurt us if we don't show up. But at least you can tell him that you broke up with what's-his-face."

"That will make him happy." Catt agreed. "I think Ben doesn't like him because he reminds him of that creepy Connor guy that is constantly drooling over Abigail. I tried to tell him to lay off nicely, but if I see him staring at her again I might just have to ask Sadusky for his gun."

"Yes, because I'm sure he'll just hand it over." Riley rolled his eyes.

"He might, if I look at him with cute little puppy eyes." She argued, loading the dishwasher. "Well, you better start getting ready if we're going to be at the American campus on time."

Riley nodded, knowing she was right. As he headed up the hall, he heard her turn on the iHome again and blast out more show tunes. Riley grinned and shook his head at her song of choice.

"Every single day,I walk down the streetI hear people say 'baby so sweet'Ever since pubertyEverybody stares at meBoys, girls I can't help it babySo be kind and don't lose your mindJust remember that I'm your baby

Take me for what I amWho I was meant to beAnd if you give a damnTake me babyOr leave me"

At least he knew she was getting over what's-his-face.

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